ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE EXAMINES REPORT OF COLOMBIA
Press Release
HR/4238
ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS COMMITTEE EXAMINES REPORT OF COLOMBIA
19951122 GENEVA, 21 November (UN Information Service) -- The combat against drug trafficking and the maintenance of law and order had eaten up the resources which otherwise would have been allocated to improve the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, the Colombian delegation told the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this morning as it took up the third periodic report of that country.The Committee was also told that, despite its difficulties, Colombia had achieved a constant economic growth and that it was an effective economic manager and the best debt payer in Latin America. In order to achieve the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, the new democratically elected Government had put in place a strategy for a social leap forward as a national policy, the delegation stated.
The delegation was led by Guillermo Alberto Gonzales, of the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations at Geneva. He was accompanied by Isabel Martinez, Presidential Political and Social Adviser, and Margarita Pena, Chief of the Social Development Unit.
Introduction of Report
Mr. Gonzales (Colombia), introducing the report, said that his country was destabilized by all sorts of violence that affected the economic and social structures. The drug trafficking, paramilitary movements and other subversive activities had all severely hampered the economic and social growth of the nation. Colombia had to fight back all the violence and restore law and order, which it considered a prerequisite to social reforms. The lion's share of its resources had been allocated to the efforts aimed at eliminating violence and to the fight against drug trafficking. Such measures had slowed implementation of reforms.
The drug traffickers of the Cali and Medellin cartels had been dismantled and the majority of the bosses were behind bars. Those and other guerrilla movements, while pursuing their subversive activities, had seriously violated the human rights of the population.
The delegation stated that the new Government had placed human rights as the foundation for its State policy. It had also adopted a structure to protect human rights and to prevent abuses. In general, a comprehensive structure was put in place to meet all the obligations demanded of Colombia.
Changes were introduced in the judiciary through the adoption of legislation. Municipalities were restructured to meet the social needs of the population. To comply with recommendations of international human rights organizations, a follow-up commission was created to work together with different ministries and non-governmental organizations. The commission would draft criminal and military codes to be submitted to the Congress.
Colombia had so far demonstrated the political will and conviction to meet its commitments in the achievement of the effective enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. It was managing the economy in a positive manner with a constant growth of 5 per cent. Colombia was an effective manager of its economy and the best payer of its external debts in Latin America. It was also on the way to achieving a fully democratic society through its policy of transparency.
Ms. Martinez (Colombia) noted that the 1991 Constitution had recognized the rights relating to social security, education, housing schemes and agrarian reforms. Self-governing regions were strengthened so that they could tackle their local problems and pursue development programmes appropriate to their regions. Since the adoption of the Constitution, the Convention on the Rights of the Child had been ratified. The campaign to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women was intensified. All efforts were concentrated on the realization of rights through the compliance of domestic legislation with international obligations. The decline in poverty was clearly marked through the increase in household income and purchasing power. Social reforms were to match the economic growth; thus the Government had taken the initiative to favour such reforms.
Discussion of Report
Following the introduction of the report, the delegation responded to additional questions by experts and to the list of issues to be taken up in connection with the consideration of the report. Experts asked if the new strategy of social leap forward was designed to achieve economic, social and cultural rights. They also stated that there were discrepancies between the reports of non-governmental organizations and the Colombian report with regard to the independence of the judiciary. One expert asked if Colombia had ratified the San Salvador Agreement on Economic Rights which was aimed at establishing individual complaints in case of violations of those rights.
The delegation indicated that the cases of displaced persons were due to the violence committed by paramilitary groups operating in remote mountainous regions. The land of drug traffickers was confiscated by the Government to be distributed to farmers as part of agrarian reform.
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